29 July 2020, Berlin – 167 Filipino seafarers departed from Hamburg International Airport today on board a chartered Condor Airlines flight bound for Manila. The flight passengers come from different maritime companies, with the bulk of over 70 crewmembers affiliated with Marlowe Shipping Management Company based in Germany. Other passengers were employed by various maritime companies in Europe. The flight arrangements were coordinated by BTH Travel Hamburg with the Philippine Embassy in Germany.

On hand to assist in the repatriation efforts in Hamburg were Philippine Ambassador to Germany Theresa Dizon-De Vega, OWWA Welfare Officer Sylvia Gabriel, and Consular staff Renante Estrella and Vieto Pilapil.

Before proceeding to their boarding gate, the seafarers were given links to the AKAP program and other benefits for displaced OFWs by the Welfare Officer Gabriel.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega expressed the hope that the returning crewmembers, who worked mostly on cargo vessels, would eventually find employment again in the international maritime sector. END

 

An additional 51 newly-hired Filipino crewmembers of AIDA Cruises arrived on 24 July 2020 at the Berlin Tegel Airport in Germany. They are set to join 217 other Filipino crewmembers who arrived earlier to commence preparations for the summer cruise season.

Like the initial batch of seafarers, the crew are all experienced maritime professionals and will undergo further training in new health and safety requirements and procedures being implemented in the European cruise industry.

On hand to welcome them in Berlin were officials of AIDA Cruises, one of the largest cruise companies in Europe, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Consul Marie Chris Chieng, and Labor Attaché Delmer Cruz.

Before proceeding to their respective ports of operation in Hamburg and Rostock, the crewmembers will undergo an orientation session in Berlin.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega welcomed the Filipino crewmembers and wished them a safe and productive stint during the cruise operations.

In view of new regulations, the crew will likewise be trained in the updated safety and health measures on board cruise vessels while their company is observing and providing additional safety measures, facilities, and equipment for the crew. END

22 July 2020, Berlin – 217 newly-hired Filipino crewmembers of AIDA Cruises arrived today at the Rostock Airport in Germany to commence preparations for the summer cruise season. All the seafarers are experienced crew members and will undergo further training in new health and safety requirements and procedures being implemented in the European cruise industry.

The Filipino seafarers are eager to start their work and orientation after arriving from Manila on board a chartered flight arranged by AIDA Cruises. On hand to welcome them in Rostock were AIDA Cruises officials, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Consul Marie Chris Chieng, and Labor Attaché Delmer Cruz.

Before proceeding to their respective ports of operation, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega welcomed the Filipino crewmembers and wished them a safe and productive stint during the cruise operations.

The seafarers will form part of the teams on three major AIDA cruise vessels, the AIDA Blu, AIDA Mar, and AIDA Pearl. The vessels will be operating out of Rostock and Hamburg ports on shorter term cruises as the maritime industry begins its recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In view of new regulations, the crew will be trained in the new safety and health measures on board cruise vessels while AIDA Cruises will provide additional safety measures, facilities, and equipment for the crew. END